God is good and God is good to me and you!!! Erroneous thinking, believes God’s goodness is only for others. Thinking it’s for those before us, after us; those better or worse off than us. I don’t know if others struggle with this, but I do. We keep thinking the things He does are for everyone else, and it is. God’s goodness is for everyone, everyone willing to run the race Jesus enters our name in.
Scripture Tells Us To Run Our Race
Running our own race the way scripture tells us, “Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown.” (1 Corinthians 9:23-25).
In our current culture, it’s stated like this….stay in your lane. God has a race for us all to run, he has reserved a lane for us and equipped us with everything we need. Getting mesmerized by someone else’s race, or getting competitive with other racers, can slow us down. Runners can get preoccupied with cheering for others as they race, and miss the race God has for us. He has something for each and everyone of us to do.
Running Free
Running our race alongside others, cheering and encouraging and helping all along the way; makes us better racers. Neglecting the race we are running, creates a gap for everyone racing. Our lane needs to be filled, we need to be running the race God has called only us to do. It’s when we begin to compare with others and complain about the race we are running, that we are no longer running, but digging a hole and rolling in it.
Running To Win
Scripture says to run in a way to win a prize. That doesn’t mean you need to knock other people off the track or take yourself off the track because you aren’t doing the same as the other runners that may be faster or younger or older, new or experienced. Running to win is to keep running; keep running hard, with zeal, discipline and purpose. Run like you are the greatest runner and the only runner in this lane, with a big beautiful prize waiting at the end.
Different Seasons Of Running
Our race of faith, looks a lot like running in every season. Every season looks a little different. You can have the same exact trail all year long and the trees and grass and mountains will always look different. In this season, my best racing moments, the moments I feel the most purpose, and clearest direction, look like holding Grandbabies and loving them fiercly. It’s amazing to see how running the race God signs you up for, is a prize in itself. We get a glimpse of the prize when you just show up where He tells us.
The Goal Is Always The Same
Christians may think running our race well, as having the biggest and far reaching ministry. I don’t think that’s the kind of race scripture is talking about. Sometimes our best race is ran sitting with children, praying, taking a walk with a friend, going to work everyday, and sometimes it is a big ministry that reaches many. There are always challenges in running. Scenery and seasons are always changing, but the goal is the same. Keep going. Keep moving forward. Put one foot in front of the other. Seek the Lord, keep showing up. Listen to the race director, otherwise known as the Holy Spirit, and run like you are winning the greatest prize of all time.
Running Is Intentional
Running doesn’t happen without being intentional. Making a plan and preparing to run is the only way it happens. To run in a race, you have to pay a price and training takes time, effort and intentionality. This is the running and the race Scripture talks about. Be intentional with our lives, and run the race set before us. Competing and comparing the way others run, only makes us trip and fall. Running with others and encouraging them will only impove our running.
Kingdom Racing
In the kingdom of God, in the race we are running, we all get to participate and we all do get a prize, but the point isn’t to just sit down and wait for death or for Jesus to return. We get to participate and win prizes. Part of the prize is here and now. The prize is seen, felt and experienced in the running itself. Maybe part of the prize, is the gift and invitation to run in the best and everlasting race. Running and racing is exhilarating and exhausting. It is beautiful and makes your heart beat faster and pound out of your chest. Running our race makes us cry, laugh, pray and rejoice at the same time.
